The Contortionist Discusses Upcoming Recording Sessions For A New Album

The Contortionist guitarist Robby Baca and GuitarWorld.com recently sat down for an exclusive, in-depth interview regarding imminent in-studio and recording plans for the band’s upcoming, currently untitled sophomore release.

The band is set to begin recording at Audio Hammer Studios in Orlando, Florida with Jason Suecof and Eyal Levi (August Burns Red, The Black Dahlia Murder) in February. The new album is tentatively set to be released with Good Fight Music in late spring/early summer 2012. Head to GuitarWorld.com now to read about the new plans, as well as details on the band’s writing process, current influences, and more. Excerpts from the interview can also be found below.

Guitar World: What is it about Eyal Levi and Jason Suecof at Audio Hammer Studios that attracted you when planning your follow-up album?

Robby: Audio Hammer Studios was kind of the first idea our label pitched to us as far as where to record. We immediately said yes. They’ve done records for All That Remains, August Burns Red, Black Dahlia Murder — a bunch of stellar-sounding metal records -- so we were immediately stoked.

Guitar World: Since signing to Good Fight Music, do you find yourselves heading toward a more refined sound?

Robby: Good Fight has never really expressed any interest in trying to control or manipulate our sound in any way. Coming up with a more refined sound would probably come from us just growing as songwriters. Good Fight has never tried to have a hand in the creative process at all.

Guitar World: What do you think is the biggest attention grabber when it comes to your music?

Robby: I feel we have a somewhat strong sense of using interesting rhythms. And just for the sake of keeping it interesting to us, we like to hear odd rhythms and to play with dissonance and consonance -- and just make interesting sounds, not focusing on just being a metal band. Sometimes the rhythms come naturally, but other times, it’s very specific where we’ll say, “We want to take this measure that’s a 13-count over a 4-count, and we want to do [this] for so many counts.” Sometimes it’s very methodically plotted out, but other times it just comes out that way, just naturally. I’d say we’re kind of mathematical.